St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-05-05
TONS OF GOLD AND JEWELS.
Fabulous Wealth in the Sultan's
Great reuSnry.


All have heard of the richness of the
treasury of Constantinople. but one must
see it to believe in its beauties, writes a
Constantinople correspondent OF the San
Francisco Chronicle. Quite ceremony Is
necessary before admittance is gained We
were about twenty and when we stood be-
fore the great doors nearly as many soldiers
ranged themselves in two lines before us.
A pasha must be called to apply the great
key, kept so carefully in silken wrappings,
and also must be the only one to break the
seal of the inner doors, as that is
kept to record the entrance. When all this
had been performed and the doors swung
back on their ponderous hinges, we with as
much solemnity filed in and the faithful
guards with us-faithful because they so
closely followed us from spot to spot.
AS we entered our eyes first rested on the
central object of that low, small roOm-a
throne so covered with pearls. rubies and
emeraldS that we were obliged to advance
close to it i'll order to see of what the
foundation was made. This we saw to be
red enamel, but at a little distance it
scarcely showed. This is a Persian throne.
taken in some ancient warfare; and, in
fact, most Of the things here were obtained
in that way.
Our attention was next given to the con-
tents of the glasses that occupy the walls of
the room. All have heard of the bowls and
plates of pearls, topaz, etc., and doubtless,
too. of the pearl embroidery, but few can
imagine the richness Of many other numer-
Gus things; of a cradle of gold. set in dia-
mondS so brilliant as to appear like solid
one, except for the occasional relief by an
amethyst or ruby. Then here are saddle
cloths and hangings worked in gold and
silver until some of them appear solid, yet
all are bright with precious stones Fine
ornaments they would make bat to think
of their ever having been used, and still the
wear on them proves that to be the case,
and then there is SO much of it. Near
them we see the old daggers. swords and
spears, with hits so jeweled as to be nearly
covered.
In the room above this is display of
arms, muSkets, guns, sabers, and all the
implements Of ancient warfare in their
various forms. In room adjoining the
lower one the central feature is a globe
like case full of collection of gold and
silver coins, all of different stamp and
value. Around this again are arranged the
cases full of a variety OF treasures, jew
eled dishes-a cup being perhaps entirely
hidden on the outside with emeralds and
rubeS, OF platter trimmed with amethyst.
Here, too, are clocks OF peculiar workman
ship, showing forth sailing ships and
watches OF immense size, with eases rich
in stones. Truly as interesting is the old.
old china of antique design.
The most attractive feature of the next
room is small GOLD obeIiSk, some four feet
high and covered with heroglyphics. 1t is
a very interesting piece Of work, but we all
were inclined to put question-mark after
the statement of its Solidity. The cases
here are also full of jeweled articles. Fine
wells are heavy with with rub.eS, and elab-
crate hangings are wrought with pearls
and emerads Saddle-cioths and rich
draperies tell of the wealth of ages ago.
Above this room are represented those
different sultanS who accumulated all this
wealth. Each one. beginning with MOham
mad H., conqueror OF Constantinopie.
shows the dress OF his time; each one
seemed to wish to outshine his predeces-
sor, and so all the long flowing
robes are of the richest silk, satin or velvet.
Either the brocade is larger, the trimmings
finer or the cut more graceful, so that none
Of them appear alike. The hits of their
belted daggerS are gorgeous with precious
stones but by far the most conspicuous
guishable is the turban.
All but one are white, yet differ greatly
in height, width material OF shape. Some
are two feet high and others that broad
and the great folds wound about them
make them appear heavier than they are.
In each one is a large diamond ornament
in the shape of flowers and peculiar
designs, and altogether they are
rather richly draped dummies. In this
same room are more guns and alSu another
throne. The chief feature of this one is the
large emerald suspended above it. 1t is
the size of Il mans two fists. and is said to
be genuine, though it seems hard to be-
lieve.
There are four small, low rooms full of
these treasures. and were things arranged
in any kind of order it would be hard to
find another such display. but as it is, with
everything huddled together with no sort
arrangement, it is difficult to fix in ones
mind the different classes of wealth. Then
the guards hurry us on SD that we come
away with unsatisfed feelings and wonder
ing if all we saw could really be what it
pretended.